diff --git a/include/sound/soc.h b/include/sound/soc.h
index ce3661d07c24..f86e455d3828 100644
--- a/include/sound/soc.h
+++ b/include/sound/soc.h
@@ -161,6 +161,8 @@ extern struct snd_ac97_bus_ops soc_ac97_ops;
 
 int snd_soc_register_platform(struct snd_soc_platform *platform);
 void snd_soc_unregister_platform(struct snd_soc_platform *platform);
+int snd_soc_register_codec(struct snd_soc_codec *codec);
+void snd_soc_unregister_codec(struct snd_soc_codec *codec);
 
 /* pcm <-> DAI connect */
 void snd_soc_free_pcms(struct snd_soc_device *socdev);
@@ -247,6 +249,9 @@ struct snd_soc_codec {
 	char *name;
 	struct module *owner;
 	struct mutex mutex;
+	struct device *dev;
+
+	struct list_head list;
 
 	/* callbacks */
 	int (*set_bias_level)(struct snd_soc_codec *,
diff --git a/sound/soc/soc-core.c b/sound/soc/soc-core.c
index 4d2db7cfaf4c..b098c0b4c584 100644
--- a/sound/soc/soc-core.c
+++ b/sound/soc/soc-core.c
@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@ static DEFINE_MUTEX(client_mutex);
 static LIST_HEAD(card_list);
 static LIST_HEAD(dai_list);
 static LIST_HEAD(platform_list);
+static LIST_HEAD(codec_list);
 
 static int snd_soc_register_card(struct snd_soc_card *card);
 static int snd_soc_unregister_card(struct snd_soc_card *card);
@@ -2224,6 +2225,48 @@ void snd_soc_unregister_platform(struct snd_soc_platform *platform)
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(snd_soc_unregister_platform);
 
+/**
+ * snd_soc_register_codec - Register a codec with the ASoC core
+ *
+ * @param codec codec to register
+ */
+int snd_soc_register_codec(struct snd_soc_codec *codec)
+{
+	if (!codec->name)
+		return -EINVAL;
+
+	/* The device should become mandatory over time */
+	if (!codec->dev)
+		printk(KERN_WARNING "No device for codec %s\n", codec->name);
+
+	INIT_LIST_HEAD(&codec->list);
+
+	mutex_lock(&client_mutex);
+	list_add(&codec->list, &codec_list);
+	snd_soc_instantiate_cards();
+	mutex_unlock(&client_mutex);
+
+	pr_debug("Registered codec '%s'\n", codec->name);
+
+	return 0;
+}
+EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(snd_soc_register_codec);
+
+/**
+ * snd_soc_unregister_codec - Unregister a codec from the ASoC core
+ *
+ * @param codec codec to unregister
+ */
+void snd_soc_unregister_codec(struct snd_soc_codec *codec)
+{
+	mutex_lock(&client_mutex);
+	list_del(&codec->list);
+	mutex_unlock(&client_mutex);
+
+	pr_debug("Unregistered codec '%s'\n", codec->name);
+}
+EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(snd_soc_unregister_codec);
+
 static int __init snd_soc_init(void)
 {
 #ifdef CONFIG_DEBUG_FS